Water Recreation
Texas may have a reputation as dry, dusty cowboy country but that’s only because Hollywood westerns don’t usually feature waterskiing, world class bass fishing, and kayak trails, three things of which Texas has more than its share.
Make a Splash
Freshwater lakes and rivers populate the state like an oasis-rich desert, not to mention the state’s 624 miles of beaches and coastline, offering every kind of water recreation imaginable. We even have our own scuba diving reef network, created by sinking abandoned offshore oil derricks, wrecked car bodies, and ships. Due to the state’s long, hot summers water activities may be Texas’ number one outdoor recreation, meaning Texans are fishing, swimming, boating, paddling, surfing, “toobing”, or simply floating lazily somewhere in the state every day during the summer months.
The Hill Country’s chain of lakes, the enormous Red River impoundment known as Lake Texoma, south Texas’ Choke Canyon Reservoir, the lakes of east Texas, and the international reservoir in southwest Texas called Amistad provide plenty of opportunities to get wet. If you prefer rivers try the San Marcos, the Guadalupe, the Brazos, the Pecos, or the crystal clear Devils in west Texas. Like the sand and surf? Hit the beach. The entire Gulf of Mexico is all yours. Jump in!
Water Recreation Sites
Forest Trail Region
Lake Jacksonville
1220 South Bolton St. Jacksonville, TX 75766 (903) 586-3510 Website
Forest Trail Region
Lake Wright Patman
64 Clear Springs Park Texarkana, TX 75501 (903) 838-8781 Website
Forest Trail Region
Caddo Outback Backwater Tours
1869 Pine Island Rd Karnack, TX 75661 (903) 789-3384 Website
Forest Trail Region
Athens Scuba Park
500 North Murchison Street Athens, TX 75751 (903) 675-5762 Website
Plains Trail Region
Lake Mackenzie
141 South Mackenzie Road Silverton, TX 79257 (806) 633-4335 Website
Forest Trail Region
Captain Ron’s Swamp Tours
756 Pine Island Road Karnack, TX 75661 (903) 679-3020 Website
Lakes Trail Region
Lake Texoma
50 Park Road 20 Denison, TX 75020 580-564-2334 or 903-465-4990 Website
Plains Trail Region
Buffalo Springs Lake
9999 High Meadow Road Lubbock, TX 79404 (806) 747-3353 Website
Forest Trail Region
Pleasure Island
520 Pleasure Pier Blvd. Port Arthur, TX 77640 (409) 982-4675 Website
Hill Country Trail Region
Barton Springs Pool
2101 Barton Springs Rd. Austin, TX 78704 (512) 867-3080 Website
Forest Trail Region
Houston County Lake
442 Dogwood Lane West Crockett, TX 75835 713-826-6959 or 281-468-4503 Website
Pecos Trail Region
Comanche Springs Pool
200 W Spring St Fort Stockton, TX 79735 (432) 336-2751 Website
Pecos Trail Region
Las Moras Springs Pool
U.S. Hwy 90 and Fort Clark Road Fort Clark Springs, TX 78832 (830) 563-2493 Website
Forest Trail Region
Boat Cruises on the Neches River
Neches River Landing Downtown Beaumont Beaumont, TX 77701 (409) 651-5326 Website
Plains Trail Region
Lake Meredith National Recreation Area
419 East Broadway Fritch, TX 79036 (806) 857-3151 Website
Plains Trail Region
Lake Colorado City State Park
4582 FM 2836 Colorado City, TX 79512 (325) 728-3931 Website
Lakes Trail Region
Lake Arrowhead State Park
229 Park Road 63 Wichita Falls, TX 76310 (940) 528-2211 Website
Plains Trail Region
Gene Howe Wildlife Management Area & Lake Marvin/Black Kettle National Grasslands
15412 Lake Marvin Road Canadian, TX 79014 (806) 323-8642 Website
Forest Trail Region
Sabine National Forest
5050 Hwy 21 East Hemphill, TX 75948 (409) 625-1940 Website
Forest Trail Region
Sam Houston National Forest
394-FM 1375 West New Waverly, TX 77358 (936) 344-6205 Website
Hill Country Trail Region
Kerrville-Schreiner Park
2385 Bandera Hwy. Kerrville, TX 78028 (830) 257-7300 Website
Brazos Trail Region
Georgetown Lake
500 Lake Overlook Drive Georgetown, TX 78628 (512) 930-5253 Website
Hill Country Trail Region
Lake Pflugerville
18216 Weiss Lane Pflugerville, TX 78660 (512) 990-6350 Website
Plains Trail Region
Lake Alan Henry (Sam Wahl Recreation Area)
FM3519 Justiceburg, TX 79330 (806) 775-2673 Website
Tropical Trail Region
Dean Porter Park
501 E Ringgold Street Brownsville, TX 78520 (956) 542-2064 Website
Lakes Trail Region
Lake Tawakoni State Park
10822 FM 2475 Wills Point, TX 75169 (903) 560-7123 Website
Forts Trail Region
Lake Mineral Wells State Park and Trailway
100 Park Road 71 Mineral Wells, TX 76067 (940) 328-1171 Website
Brazos Trail Region
Fort Boggy State Park
4994 Hwy 75 South Centerville, TX 75833 (903) 344-1116 Website
Hill Country Trail Region
Guadalupe River State Park
3350 Park Rd. 31 Spring Branch, TX 78070 (830) 438-2656 Website
Tropical Trail Region
Falcon State Park
146 Park Road 46 Falcon Heights, TX 78545 (956) 848-5327 Website
Forest Trail Region
Martin Creek Lake State Park
9515 County Rd. 2181D Tatum, TX 75691 (903) 836-4336 Website
Forest Trail Region
Lake Bob Sandlin State Park
341 State Park Rd. 2117 Pittsburg, TX 75686 (903) 572-5531 Website
Forts Trail Region
Colorado Bend State Park
6031 Colorado Park Road Bend, TX 76824 (325) 628-3240 Website
Independence Trail Region
Galveston Island State Park
14901 FM 3005 Galveston, TX 77564 (409) 737-1222 Website
Hill Country Trail Region
Pedernales Falls State Park
2585 Park Road 6026 Johnson City, TX 78636 (830) 868-7304 Website
Pecos Trail Region
South Llano River State Park
1927 Park Road 73 Junction , TX 76849 (325) 446-3994 Website
Tropical Trail Region
Lake Casa Blanca International State Park
5102 Bob Bullock Loop Laredo, TX 78044 (956) 725-3826 Website
Lakes Trail Region
Cooper Lake State Park
1690 FM 3505 South Sulphur Unit Sulphur Springs, TX 75482 (903) 395-3100 Website
Forest Trail Region
Lake Livingston State Park
300 State Park Rd. 65 Livingston, TX 77351 (936) 365-2201 Website
Forest Trail Region
Village Creek State Park
8854 Park Rd. 74 Lumberton, TX 77657 (409) 755-7322 Website
Tropical Trail Region
Mustang Island State Park
17047 State Highway 361 Port Aransas, TX 78373 (361) 749-5246 Website
Lakes Trail Region
Ray Roberts Lake State Park
100 PW 4137 Isle du Bois Unit Pilot Point, TX 76258 (940) 637-2294 Website
Forest Trail Region
Sea Rim State Park
19335 S Gulfway Drive Sabine Pass, TX 77655 (409) 971-2559 Website
Tropical Trail Region
Lake Corpus Christi State Park
23194 Park Road 25 Mathis, TX 78368 (361) 547-2635 Website
Hill Country Trail Region
Landa Park
110 Golf Course Road Corner of Landa Park Drive and Golf Course Rd. New Braunfels, TX 78130 (830) 221-4350 Website
Pecos Trail Region
Amistad National Recreation Area
9685 Hwy 90 West Del Rio, TX 78840 (830) 775-7491 Website
Forts Trail Region
Lake Brownwood State Park
200 State Highway Park Road 15 Brownwood, TX 76801 (325) 784-5223 Website
Forest Trail Region
Huntsville State Park
565 Park Road 40 West Huntsville, TX 75948 (936) 295-5644 Website
Independence Trail Region
Matagorda Island Wildlife Management Area
Matagorda Island Port O'Connor, TX 77982 (979) 323-9553 Website
Hill Country Trail Region
Blanco State Park
101 Park Road 23 Blanco, TX 78606 (830) 833-4333 Website
Independence Trail Region
Brazos Bend State Park
21901 FM 762 Needville, TX 77461 (979) 553-5101 Website
Independence Trail Region
Palmetto State Park
78 Park Road 11 South Gonzales, TX 78629 (830) 672-3266 Website
Hill Country Trail Region
Lost Maples State Natural Area
37221 FM 187 Vanderpool, TX 78885 (830) 966-3413 Website
Hill Country Trail Region
McKinney Falls State Park
5808 McKinney Falls Parkway Austin, TX 78744 (512) 243-1643 Website
Lakes Trail Region
Cedar Hill State Park
1570 West FM 1382 Cedar Hill, TX 75104 (972) 291-3900 Website